Ice fishing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ice fishing apparatus including means to move a pivot support relative to a base. The apparatus includes first and second line supports each consisting of spaced-apart holders to hold a plurality of elongated loops of fishing line, the linear distance between the two holders of one support being greater than the linear distance between the two holders of the other support. An assemblable and disassemblable ice fishing apparatus also is described consisting of a plurality of cooperating members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Karl G. Tillappe 38 Tara Avenue,Scarborough, Ontario, Canada [2] Appl. No. 865,663 [22] Filed Oct. 13,1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [54] [CE FISHING APPARATUS l 1 Claims,6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 43/17, 43/2l.2, 211/13 [51] lnt.Cl ..A0lk 97/12 [50] Fieldof Search ..43/17, 21.2, 26; 21 1/1 .3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,649 1/1956 Tuttle43/17 3/1948 Dolk 2,438,388 43/21 .2 UX 2,473,047 6/1949 Bershad 21 1/1.3 FOREIGN PATENTS 727,359 2/1966 Canada 411/17 Primary ExaminerAldn'chF. Medbery Assistant ExaminerDaniel J. Leach AtmmeyMichael 1. StewartPATENIEDSEP mu 3.603017 SHEET 1 [IF 3 INVEN'IY'OR. KARL G. T. HAPPEAgent PATENIEUSEP 7191: 3.603017 SBEU 2 [1F 3 IN VliN'I )R. KARL G. T.HAPPE W Aka/ Agent PATENIEU SEP 7 IHII Il 1: I! 28g? ii III IIIII/ i '228 FIG SHEET 3 OF 3 5 I We 18 a M II" l 1|? 74 H Hg} 2 %16 i 0:

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INVIiN'IUR. KARL G. T. HAPPE BY M/ /L/ Agent ICE FISHING APPARATUS Thepresent invention relates to ice fishing apparatus.

Conventional fishing rods and floats a're impractical when fishingthrough holes in ice due to the long periods and cold temperaturesinvolved. Ice fishing apparatus has been devised and such apparatusgenerally includes a base member, and a beam pivotally mounted withrespect to the base member. The

beam supports fishing line which passes therefrom to a hook or likefish-sharing device through a hole in the ice.

So as to detect when a fish is biting, it has been previously proposedin US. Pat. 2,650,052issued Aug. 25, 1953, to Louis A Bintz to balancethe beam about a pivot, so that the beam is horizontal. When a fish isbiting, pivotal movement of the beam occurs. In this way the fishermanbecomes aware of the fish and can act accordingly. Such an arrangementis very sensitive and is much more sensitive than arrangements where thebeam is not horizontal and correctly balanced.

Fishing line may be held on a reel or on the beam in a series of loopsas in US. Pat. 2,650,052, mentioned above. While the balanced beamarrangement does have certain advantages over the nonbalancedarrangement, the use of the beam to hold unused line does suffer fromcertain disadvantages. Thus, one complete loop of line must be removedor replaced when adjusting the length of line between the beam and thehook. This could readily lead to too long or too short a line. This isof particular importance when the fish snare is of the type which sitson the bottom of the body of water being fished.

The present invention seeks to overcome this defect by providing a fineor vemier adjustment to the length of line between the beam and thehook.

In addition, the present invention provides an ice fishing apparatuswhich is readily assembled and disassembled, and in its disassembledform may be readily carried, such as in a coat pocket.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in anassembled form,

FIG. 2, is a sectional view taken along lines 1ll1 of FIG.

FIG. 3, is a perspective view of one embodiment in a disassembled form,

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of certain portions of the deviceindicating some of the steps involved in forming an assembly such asthat shown in FIG. 1. Throughout the drawings, the same referencenumerals are used to indicate the same parts.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an ice fishing apparatus 10 includes a base12 consisting of a lower portion 14 including walls 16 and an upperportion 18 including walls 20 and a tongue 22. The walls 16 includeshoulders 24. The parts of walls 20, above shoulders 24 are spaced apartslightly less than the walls 16. Thus, the walls 20 rest on theshoulders 24.

An upstanding member 26 has walls 28 which are spaced apart a distanceslightly less than the distance between the walls 16 below the shoulders24. The walls 28 include a shoulder 30 which terminates just above theshoulder 24 when the device is assembled as shown. A crosspiece 32 isformed in the member 26 andincludes a slot (not shown in FIG. I butreadily visible in FIGS. 5 and 6) in which is received the ton-- gue 22.This has the effect of stabilizing the member 26 relative to the base12.

A slot 34 is formed in one of the walls 28. The reason for the presenceof this slot will become apparent hereinafter.

At the upper end of member 26 is another cross piece 36 and two walls 38spaced from and extending parallel to walls 28 between the crosspiece 36and an end wall 40. A notch 42 is formed in the crosspiece 36. Thereason for the presence of this notch 42 will become apparenthereinafter.

As will be more readily apparent from FIG. 2, the walls 38 act asvertical guides for a pivot support 44. The pivot support 44 has agenerally U-shape, the arms of which are in interference fit withelongated slots 45 formed in the end wall 40. This enables the pivotsupport to be moved through a limited vertical distance.

The pivot support 44 and the means whereby such may be adjusted in FIGS.1 and 2 represents only one embodiment of the invention. Clearly otherpivot supports could be provided and other devices could be providedwhereby the required vertical adjustment could be achieved.

The combination of the base 12 with the upright 26 represents a basemember for the pivot support 44. The embodiment illustrated representsone way in which a suitable base member can be provided. Base memberscould be clearly provided in other manners.

The pivot support 44 supports a pivot pin 46 which rests in channels 48formed in the upper ends of the arms of the support 44. Pivot pin 46serves to pivotally mount a beam 50 on the pivot support 44. The use ofa pivot pin represents one way in which the beam may be pivotallymounted on the pivot support. Other means to achieve this end could beemployed.

The pivot pin 46 passes in interference fit through one of severalopenings 52 in the beam 50. The choice of the particular opening isdependent on a number of factors as will become apparent below.

Fishing line 54 is wrapped as a series of elongated loops betweenindentations 56 and 58 formed in the beam. The indentations 56 and 58represent a first twospaced-apart fishing line-holding means.Indentations represent only one manner in which the fishing line may beheld on the beam 50. Other devices could be employed; for example, theline could be held between two nails projecting from the beam 50.

The line 54 passes over a guide (not shown) at'the tip 60 of the beam 50and then downwardly through a hole in the ice to a fish-snaring device62.

The beam 50 also includes opposed hooklike indentations 64 and 66. Theindentations 64 and 66 represent a second two spaced-apart fishing lineholding means. Such indentations could be replaced by other devices toproduce the same effect. The only limitation on such alternative devicesis that the distance between the members of the second two holding meansis less than the distance between the members of the first two holdingmeans.

When the fishing apparatus is in operation as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2, the fish-snaring device 16 rests on the bed of the body of waterbeing fished and the beam is adjusted to anas-nearly-horizontal-as-possible position. This adjustment may be madeby choosing the particular hole 52 through which to pass the pivot pin46 whereby there is provided a balance.

Utilizing the particular fish-snaring device 62 illustrated, it isunsatisfactory if this is not placed on the water body bed. When thebalance has been achieved as described above, the fish-snaring devicemay not so sit. The present invention provides for limited adjustment ofthe distance between the guide at the tip 60 and the bed of the body ofwater.

This may be achieved by adjusting the height of the pivot pin 46relative to the base 12 by sliding the arms of the pivot support 44 inthe slots 45 by the required amount.

Alternatively, an extra loop of line may be removed from between thefirst two indentations 56 and 58 and wrapped around the second twoindentations 64 and 66. By removing line from between the second twoindentations relatively small increments in the length of the line maybe achieved.

Further, a combination of these two operations may be carried out toachieve the desired effect.

Turning now to consideration of FIG. 3, this shows the fishing apparatusdisassembled. The lower portion 14 of the base 12 has an end wall 67between the side walls 16 extending upwardly from the bottom 68 ofportion I4 to the height of shoulders 24. Further walls 70 and 72 areformed upstanding from the bottom 68, parallel to and of equal height tothe end wall 67. In addition, a wall 74 joins the inner extremities ofwalls 70 and 72 and is parallel to the sidewalls 16. Wall '74 extends tothe same height as walls 70 and 72. The distance between wall 70 and endwall 67 is just slightly greater than the depth ofthe wall 28 of theupright member 26, so that the lower end of the upright may be receivedand supported between the two walls.

A projection 76 is formed on wall -72 of substantially the same externalshape as indentation 64. Wall 74 provides rigidity to walls 70 and 72and also serves to form an enclosed space 77 in which can be stored fishhooks, etc. An upstanding projection 78 is located within the enclosedspace 77 and serves as a keeper for the pivot pin 46.

The upper portion 18 of the base 12 is joined to the lower portion 14 attheir open ends. The joint is formed by the tongue 22 on the portion 18received within a slot formed in the bottom of the portion 14. This ismore clearly shown in FIG. 4.

-A projection 80 is formed on the bottom 82 of the portion 18 and is ofsubstantially the same external shape as indentation' 66 on the beam 50.The projections 76 and 80 are so located that when portions 14 and 18are joined together, beam 50 may be supported therebetween as shown inFIG. 3.

As indicated above the walls 20 of the portion 18 are spaced apart thesame distance as the shoulders 24 on the walls 16. An end wall 84 isprovided. This end wall 84 and the sidewalls 20 project upwardly, thesame distance as the shoulders 24 on the walls 16.

The pivot support 44 is retracted so that there is no portion of thearms projecting through the slots 45 proud of the end wall 40. As shownin FIG. 3, the base of the pivot support abuts the crosspiece 36 when itis retracted and therefore constitutes a stop indicating that thesupport is retracted.

The crosspiece 32 can be seen to include a lateral slot 86 in which isreceived the tongue 22 when the device is assembled as seen in FIG. 1.The crosspiece also includes a vertical slot 88. There is an end wall 90provided and it will be seen that the shoulder 30 does not extend thecomplete length of the sidewalls 28. The distance between the end of theshoulder 30 and the end wall 90 is at least equal to the vertical heightof shoulders 24. A slot 92 is provided in the same sidewall 28 as slot34. Slots 34 and 92 extend down to the shoulder 30. The distance betweenthe shoulders 30 and the top of the walls 28 is equal to the height ofthe shoulders 24, and the depth of the shoulders 30 is equal to thedistance between the top of the shoulders 24 and the top of the walls16.

As indicated above, the distance between the walls 28 is slightly lessthan the distance between the shoulders 24 and the distance between theshoulders 30 is slightly less than the distance between the walls 16above the shoulders 24. In addition, the length of the upright 26 isslightly less than the combined lengths of the two portions 14 and 18.It will be apparent that the upright 26 will neatly cooperate with thetwo portions I4 and 18 to form an enclosure in which can be stored thebeam 50, the pivot pin 46 and any fish-snaring device. The upright 26fits in,between the walls of the portion 14 and 18 with its wall 28projecting down within the walls 20 and shoulders 24. The slots 34 and92 receive the walls 72 and 70, respectively, and slot 88 receives wall74. The tops of walls 20 and shoulders 24 abut against shoulders 30.Slot 42 accommodates part of the beam 50. Notch 42 accommodates the tip60 of the beam.

This arrangement has an extremely pleasing external appearance and canbe readily transported. When it is wished to utilize the ice fishingapparatus, the apparatus may be erected in a few simple steps, as willbe apparent from the following description of FIGS. 4, and 6.

The upright member first is removed so that there is revealed theinterior of the enclosure as seen in FIG. 3. The beam 50 is removed fromits retaining position between the projections 76 and 80 and the pin 46removed from its retaining position.

The portions I4 and 18 then are taken apart by sliding the tongue 22 outof a slot 94 in the bottom 68 of portion I4 (FIG. 4). The uprightportion 26 then is inserted in the gap between the wall 70 and the endwall 67 resting with end wall 90 on the bottom 68. The ends of theshoulders 30 rest on the top of shoulders 24 and the walls 28 are heldbetween the shoulders 24 (FIG. 5). The portion 18 then is turned upsidedown and slid with the top of walls 20 resting on top of shoulders 24 sothat the tongue 22 engages slot 86 to firmly hold member 26 in anupright position (FIG. 6).

At any stage of these operations, once the upright 26 has been removedfrom on top of the portions 14 and 18, the pivot-supporting member 44may be placed in an operative position.

Having reached the stage shown in FIG. 6, and having placed the pivotsupport 44 in an operative position, the pivot pin 46 can be passedthrough a hole 52 in beam 50, line 54 runs out to approximately thedesired length, the beam 50 pivotally mounted on the support 44, and thebalance, the length of the line or the height of the beam 50 adjusted asdescribed above.

It is preferred that the center of gravity of the beam together with itsattachments, i.e., line and fish-snaring device, be located in a planebelow the pivot pin. This increases the sensitivity of the beam tomovement caused by a fish biting. It is particularly preferred that thecenter of gravity of the beam together with its attachments be locateddirectly below the pivot pin.

This latter arrangement is particularly sensitive. Sensitivity of thebeam is important since the fish are particularly sluggish in the coldwater. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the center of gravity islocated directly below the pivot pin 46.

Modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Ice fishing apparatus comprising a base member, pivot support means,a beam adapted to support a fishing line, and a pivot pin pivotallymounting said beam on said pivot support means, said base membercomprising an upright member and a base, said upright member having anupper portion and openings formed in said upper portion, said pivotsupport means comprises a generally U-shaped body having arms which arereceived in interference fit in the openings in said upper portion ofsaid upright member and which supports said pivot pin, whereby saidpivot support means and thereby said pivot pin may be moved verticallywith respect to said base by passage of said arms through the openingsin said upper portion.

2. The apparatus of claim I wherein said beam is balanced about saidpivot pin and thereby maintained substantially horizontal.

3. The apparatus of claim I wherein the center of gravity of said beamwhen supporting a fishing line and a fish fish-snaring device is locatedin a plane below the pivot pin 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thecenter of gravity of said beam when supporting a fishing line and a fishsnaring device is located directly below said pivot pin.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam includes a first twospaced-apart fishing line-holding means adapted to hold a plurality ofelongated loops of fishing line extending therebetween and a second twospaced-apart fishing line holding means, the linear distance betweensaid first two holding means being greater than the linear distancebetween said second two holding means, whereby the length of fishingline between said beam and a fish snaring device can be adjusted byrelatively minor amendments by winding line from said first two holdingmeans around said second two holding means.

6. Ice fishing apparatus comprising a base member, pivot support means,a beam adapted to support a fishing line, and a pivot pin pivotallymounting said beam on said pivot support means, said beam comprising anelongated portion, a head portion and a neck portion joining saidelongated portion and said head portion at a position intermediate theends of said elongated portions, said elongated portion including firstarcuately shaped indentations constituting a first two-spaced-apartfishing line-holding means adapted to hold a plurality of elongatedloops of fishing line extending therebetween, one of said indentationsbeing located in said elongated portion and below said neck portion andthe other at one extremity of said elongated portion and remote fromsaid neck portion, said head portion including a plurality ofspaced-apart openings suitable to receive said pivot pin, said neckportion constituting a second two-spaced-apart fishing line-holdingmeans, the linear distance between said first two-holding means beinggreater than the linear distance between said second two-holding means,whereby the length of fishing line between said beam and fish-snaringdevice can be adjusted by relatively minor amounts by winding line fromsaid first two-holding means around said second two-holding means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said base member comprises anupright member supported by a base.

8. An assemblable and disassemblable ice fishing apparatus comprising abeam, three cooperating members which in the assembled fon'n cooperateto provide an upright member adapted to support the said beam on whichfishing line is received and a base member supporting said uprightmember, said three cooperating members consisting of a first elongatedmember having a base and upstanding end and sidewalls, a secondelongated member having a base and upstanding sidewalls, one end walland an open end, and a third elongated member having a base, upstandingsidewalls and one end wall and an open end, the combined length of thebases of said second and third members being coextensive with the baseof said first member, the sidewalls of said second and third membersbeing spaced apart the same distance and the sidewalls of said firstmember being spaced apart a distance slightly less than that of thewalls of said second and third members, said second and third membersbeing capable of being releasably joined together in a lengthwisedirection adjacent their open ends when said apparatus is in thedisassembled form whereby there is provided an elongated body havingsidewalls and end walls and a base coextensive'with said first member,said first member nesting with said body to provide, in saiddisassembled form, an elongated enclosure in which is received andenclosed said beam.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second elongated memberincludes a wall parallel to said end wall of said second member andspaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the height of both theside and end walls of said first elongated member, whereby one endportion of said first member is received within the space between saidend wall of said second member and the wall parallel thereto and saidfirst member upstands from said second member, said third elongatedmember cooperating with said first and second members to provide rigidsupport for said first member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said third elongated memberincludes a tongue and said first member includes a groove in which saidtongue may be received, the sidewalls of said third member nesting onthe sidewalls of said second member when said tongue is received withinsaid groove, said second member including means to preventrelative-lateral displacement of said second and third members, wherebythere is provided a rigid support for said first member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first elongated memberincludes pivot support means movable longitudinally with respectthereto, said pivot support means being adapted to support meanspivotally mounting thereon a beam on which fishing line is received

1. Ice fishing apparatus comprising a base member, pivot support means,a beam adapted to support a fishing line, and a pivot pin pivotallymounting said beam on said pivot support means, said base membercomprising an upright member and a base, said upright member having anupper portion and openings formed in said upper portion, said pivotsupport means comprises a generally U-shaped body having arms which arereceived in interference fit in the openings in said upper portion ofsaid upright member and which supports said pivot pin, whereby saidpivot support means and thereby said pivot pin may be moved verticallywith respect to said base by passage of said arms through the openingsin said upper portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam isbalanced about said pivot pin and thereby maintained substantiallyhorizontal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the center of gravity ofsaid beam when supporting a fishing line and a fish fish-snaring deviceis located in a plane below the pivot pin
 4. The apparatus of Claim 1wherein the center of gravity of said beam when supporting a fishingline and a fish snaring device is located directly below said pivot pin.5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said beam includes a first twospaced-apart fishing line-holding means adapted to hold a plurality ofelongated loops of fishing line extending therebetween and a second twospaced-apart fishing line holding means, the linear distance betweensaid first two holding means being greater than the linear distancebetween said second two holding means, whereby the length of fishingline between said beam and a fish snaring device can be adjusted byrelatively minor amendments by winding line from said first two holdingmeans around said second two holding means.
 6. Ice fishing apparatuscomprising a base member, pivot support means, a beam adapted to supporta fishing line, and a pivot pin pivotally mounting said beam on saidpivot support means, said beam comprising an elongated portion, a headportion and a neck portion joining said elongated portion and said headportion at a position intermediate the ends of said elongated portions,said elongated portion including first arcuately shaped indentationsconstituting a first two-spaced-apart fishing line-holding means adaptedto hold a plurality of elongated loops of fishing line extendingtherebetween, one of said indentations being located in said elongatedportion and below said neck portion and the other at one extremity ofsaid elongated portion and remote from said neck portion, said headportion including a plurality of spaced-apart openings suitable toreceive said pivot pin, said neck portion constituting a secondtwo-spaced-apart fishing line-holding means, the linear distance betweensaid first two-holding means being greater than the linear distancebetween said second two-holding means, whereby the length of fishingline between said beam and fish-snaring device can be adjusted byrelatively minor amounts by winding line from said first two-holdingmeans around said second two-holding means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6wherein said base member comprises an upright member supported by abase.
 8. An assemblable and disassemblable ice fishing apparatuscomprising a beam, three cooperating members which in the assembled formcooperate to provide an upright member adapted to support the said beamon which fishing line is received and a base member supporting saidupright member, said three cooperating members consisting of a firstelongated member having a base and upstanding end and sidewalls, asecond elongated member having a base and upstanding sidewalls, one endwall and an open end, and a third elongated member having a base,upstanding sidewalls and one end wall and an open end, the combinedlength of the bases of said second and third members being coextensivewith the base of said first member, the sidewalls of said second andthird members being spaced apart the same distance and the sidewalls ofsaid first member being spaced apart a distance slightly less than thatof the walls of said second and third members, said second and thirdmembers being capable of being releasably joined together in alengthwise direction adjacent their open ends when said apparatus is inthe disassembled form whereby there is provided an elongated body havingsidewalls and end walls and a base coextensive with said first member,said first member nesting with said body to provide, in saiddisassembled form, an elongated enclosure in which is received andenclosed said beam.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said secondelongated member includes a wall parallel to said end wall of saidsecond member and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than theheight of both the side and end walls of said first elongated member,whereby one end portion of said first member is received within thespace between said end wall of said second member and the wall parallelthereto and said first member upstands from said second memBer, saidthird elongated member cooperating with said first and second members toprovide rigid support for said first member.
 10. The apparatus of claim9 wherein said third elongated member includes a tongue and said firstmember includes a groove in which said tongue may be received, thesidewalls of said third member nesting on the sidewalls of said secondmember when said tongue is received within said groove, said secondmember including means to prevent relative-lateral displacement of saidsecond and third members, whereby there is provided a rigid support forsaid first member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said firstelongated member includes pivot support means movable longitudinallywith respect thereto, said pivot support means being adapted to supportmeans pivotally mounting thereon a beam on which fishing line isreceived.